Law Student Projects

Student projects at Kramer Law

Kramer Law students do more than study Law. UCT's law students are active and committed to sharing their knowledge and schools off-campus in a range of non-profit initiatives. Two of these projects are highlighted below.

The Human Upliftment Project

The Human Upliftment Project, a nonprofit human rights organisation founded by students from the University of Cape Town, has partnered with CASAC on a new human rights education and Constitutional literacy programme for high school pupils.

The programme started in March 2018 at Beacon Hill Secondary School in Mitchell's Plain and Thandokhulu High School in Mowbray. The Social Justice Education Programme is a student initiative focused on decolonising the UCT Law curriculum and its main objective is to ensure that the first legal system South African pupils are introduced to is the oldest of its land.

The project is based on African Customary Law and the effects of colonialism on this legal system.

While the project provides support to high school learners, it also provides an important opportunity for law students to engage in the practical work of a clinic-type advisory service.

Potential clients can contact the organisation either via cell phone or e-mail, giving details such as the learner’s name, school and grade, as well as a brief overview of the situation resulting in a disciplinary process. Law students then serve as representatives to attend the hearing with the client to ensure that due process is followed, and that the learner’s procedural rights are protected as far as possible.

The UCT Branch members are Richard McLean (final year 2018), Lebone Matshitse (final year 2018) and Que Dabula (Prelim B, Combined Stream 2018). Still a new organisation, these members have successfully provided representation on three occasions, and plan to expand their memberships and their level of service provision.

The Chamber of Legal Students and its new members show commitment to the cause in a Saturday morning training workshop - Lebone Matshitse and Que Dabula run the workshop with UCT Law Students | 10 March 2018